The Question

To follow others. To question little. To play nice. To work hard. To not rock the boat. To compromise when necessary. (And it’s often necessary.)

To retire with a big savings account, excellent health benefits, and a sinking sense that you’ve spent your life fulfilling someone else’s dreams.

* * *

There is another way.

A way that prioritizes personal freedom, meaningful work, and never-ending exploration.

This is the way of adventure.

Adventure isn’t always about climbing mountains or traveling the world. At its core, adventure is about intentionally putting yourself into uncomfortable situations that lead to growth.

It’s about designing a life instead of accepting the one you’re handed.

It’s about living in such a way that, whether you die next week or at age 90, you will not regret your choices.

You can still have safety, comfort, and approval with a life of adventure. Same with degrees, jobs, cars, houses, and spouses. But they’re byproducts of a life well-lived—not its ultimate purpose.

* * *

Here’s the rub: you’ve got to start young.

“Young” means sometime between age 13 and 23: when you can think for yourself but adult responsibilities haven’t really piled up.

If you spend your entire youth doing exactly what you’re told—pursuing safety, comfort, and approval—you handicap your ability to build an adventurous life. Jobs, leases, mortgages, and kids only make things harder. Before you know it, you might look back and see how little you’ve actually lived.

This is your golden window. Don’t waste it.

* * *

The Way of Adventure is an advanced leadership course created by me, Blake Boles.

The course is free, self-paced, and designed for anyone with basic English reading, writing, and googling skills. You can participate from anywhere in the world. It’s meant for 13- to 23-year-olds, but people of all ages are welcome to participate.

This isn’t your typical online course—it’s more like ascavenger hunt packed with twelve hands-on, real-world challenges. Completing this course is really, really hard. Most who start don’t finish it. There’s nothing to gain from finishing this course—no certificate, no diploma, nada—except the experience of the challenges themselves.

It’s fine to just browse, poke around, and do some of the challenges. But if you do finish every challenge—which no one has yet done—I’ll invite you to join the private online community of course graduates, where together we will make plans to take over the world.